It’s strange times at Harley-Davidson. Earlier this year, rumors and spy shots of a small capacity bike for the Indian market started surfacing. But H-D has just announced a distribution and manufacturing deal with India?s Hero MotoCorp?leaving the future of the ‘338’ uncertain.
Meanwhile, an Italian industrial design house has seen potential in the idea of a small, twin-cylinder street tracker?so they’ve built their own, fully functioning prototype. And just like the bike that H-D have teased, it uses the $4,299 Benelli 302S as a base.

Based near Bologna, Engines Engineering was founded in 1979 by Alberto Strazzari. They specialize in motorcycle design and development, and have worked with OEMs like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati, Benelli and many others. They also have a staff complement of around a hundred?so they have both the know-how and manpower to pull off jobs like this. Dubbed the XR338, this plucky little street tracker is aimed squarely at the US market, and with younger riders in mind.

It was a passion project for EE’s man in North America, Michael Uhlarik, who’s also an award-winning designer in his own right. ?Most US bikers had their first motorcycle experiences on the dirt, in a farm field or on a flat track,? he says.
?This year is the 50th anniversary of the legendary Harley-Davidson XR750, not only the most successful flat tracker in history, but also one of the most beautiful motorcycles ever made. It was past ti...